Improved cottoi or hay-press



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Letters Patent No. 76,860, dated April 14, 1868.

IMPROVED COTTON 0R HAY-PRESS.

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.TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, J, WENTZ, of Girard, in the county of Russell, and State of Alabama, have invented a new and improved Cotton or Hay-Press and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and-exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in'the art to make and use the same,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of myimprovcd press. 7

Figure 2 is a. section of the same through the linear w, fig. 1.

Figures 3-and 4- are respectively a detail side view and section of the wooden toggle-bars, showing their method of attachment.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of this inventionconsists in applying the mechanical expedient familiarly known as a toggle joint for the purpose of pressing cotton, hay, or other like substance, into a bale, with certain combination of parts,.togcther with other devices perfecting the whole, which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Inthe drawings, A. is a cotton-box, resting upon and guided by two rail-plates, B, as shown, which permit the box, A, a to-and-fro movement. .These rail-plates rest on and are bolted to a transverse sill,,(l, near the ends of which are stout vertical post's, D, which serve as points of resistance to the toggle-bars E. These toggle-bar's may be, in practice, of tough-wood, or may-be iron bars, as shown in the drawing.

In fig. 1, one half of thetop part of 'the COtlZOIl-.l)02 l is shown removed, the better to exhibit the followblocks F, which are actuated by the toggle bars, to compress'the cotton when the cotton-box is drawn toward the central position between the. two posts D, for when so drawn, the'togglc-bars will force in the follow-blocks, the said bars acquiring greater power as the box approaches the central position. asnshown by the red outline in fig. 1. v

The side doors H are hinged at a, and can be let down laterally when the pressed bale is to be rolled out of the press. v The top, I, is removable, and this, together with the side doors, is clamped by slotted-clamp bars b, in the usual manner.

The follow blocks aremade with four projections, d, for the purpose of preventing the said blocks from getting cramped in the box when the toggle-bars are beginning their pressing action. I

An important advantageous feature, in connection with the box, consists inthe slot 0, which extends around three sides of the box, and is for the purpose of permitting the entrance of the bagging in front ofthe follow blocks, whereby, when the latter are moved up in compressing the cotton, the bagging will be kept free from wrinkles, and the edges presented fair for roping.

The hex is, in practice, provided with rollers or trucks, andis drawn forward on the rail-plates B by the winding or the rope g on the crab or capstan it, as shown, the capstan-spindle having hearings in the end of the extension, J. p

The box rests upon and is attached to bottom-beams L, which are halved longitudinally, to fit the corresponding formation of the rail-plates B, as shown at fig. 2. This arrangement is for the purpose of keeping;

the box upon the said rail plates. I

In operation, the press is placed near tc the door of the lint-room, from whence the box is filled with cotton,

and packed down as much as may be conveniently, the side doors H being held up by a pin or other suitable means. When full, the top isplaced on, and clamped in the usual manner. The capstan is then turned .by horse-power, or by hand if desired, till the box is brought to the position shown in red. The clamps are then knocked off, and the top and side doors opened. The hole is then roped, and when-that operation is completed,

the rope g is slacked up, and the box pushed backward, when itwill, from the tension of'the bale, run abouthalf the distance backward. The follow-blocks beingslacked, the bale is thenrolled out. Bagging is then entered in the slots e, and the side doors H put up, when the box is ready for again filling with cotton, to be pressed and baled as before described. 7 v v This press is simple, and of few parts. It is therefore cheap, durable, and not; likely to get out of repair.

Iam aware that toggle-bars have been used in connection with cotton-pressega nd do not claim such broadly, but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s- 1. The movable cotton-box A, with its slot a, substantially as shown and described, in combination with one or more toggle-bars E, and capstan-power, all as and for the purpose set Forth.

2. In combination with the movable box A, having slots a, and with the toggle-bars E, I claim the followers E, when provided with projections d, all constructed, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose set forth. 1

' J. WENTZ.

Witnesses:

L. H. COGBILL, T. M. BROWN. 

